Exit Polls Show Italian Voters Are Favoring Change

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November 22, 1993

ROME — Fed up with corruption in mainstream politics, voters turned to candidates of the left and right - as well as the autonomy-minded Northern League - in mayoral elections Sunday, exit polls showed.

The Christian Democrats and the Socialists, who have governed Italy for 45 years, were shut out in six major cities, showing that voters had lost faith in both centrist parties ahead of national elections likely to be held next year.

In one of the most closely watched races, Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of World War II dictator Benito Mussolini and a prominent neo-fascist herself, made it to a runoff in the Naples mayor's race.

In Rome, the neo-fascists scored another gain, with national party leader Gianfranco Fini reaching the runoff. Turnout was reported heavy despite snow and rain.